With all the pro/con discussion regarding drones, I was watching the latest episode of America's Got Talent with my wife, and one of the acts was a Japanese dance group that was choreographed using a bunch of mini drones. It is on youtube, so I am inserting it if you are interested.

Where are the creators of the visual effects? Are they not slightly more important than the gals dancing underneath?

On the actual episode, they did bring out the pilots and talked about them. The YT clip cut that part off. I have to say, I really don't know what the dancers are doing, even after watching this numerous times.

What I really find amazing is that these things aren't using GPS (I assume, since it is indoors), and that makes the formation flying and placement really amazing.

They go to the next round, and my wife likes to record the program, so I am really looking forward to their next performance.

I was that last night.My first thiught was how many faa regs they were breaking flying over people and one controler controling all of those flying quesinart meat shreaders at one time.....how does he keep his eyes on all od them at once. Must have got a special weaiver from everybody to put all of the unsuspecting audiance menbers in danger...

Fly Hard......Team Viagra

I'm not absolutely positive, but I think FAA rules only apply outside. There were 5 or 6 pilots (guys, not being dancers) that came out. I really don't know how they did the flight, but I still found it interesting.

FAA only has jurisdiction over outside air space. XGM/VGM

John Crotts www.soonerhelicamproductions.com

What I really find amazing is that these things aren't using GPS

no they use an infared location system where cameras placed around the center of the flight area can see each drone...college kids came up with this a while back. the "pilots" dont actually fly anything either...the drones are all controlled simultaneously via computer and pre-programmed flight routine...each drone is given an identifier and based on where the computer "sees" it in the formation tells each drone where and how much to move by continuously.... all based on that routine.

showing a preference will only get you into trouble, 90% of everything is crap...

I had seen a video a while back showing a formation of the small indoor machines, although I don't recall too much about it, particularly how they were maintaining formation. There wasn't anything that I recall like the video as far as choreography, though.